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Chapter twenty-Eight: Assassins, Mass-Murderers and Demons
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Beijing
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November 1821
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He knew something was not right the moment he entered his private rooms. It had been a difficult day with quite a lot of his dukes –most of them cousins or uncles- violently against his plans to enter an alliance with the Westerner. So, he had cancelled his appointment with his current favorite concubine to get, at last, a real night's sleep.
So, his apartment should have been empty.
But it wasn't.
He couldn't say how he knew it but there was a shiver climbing along his back as soon as his servants had closed the doors.
He opened his mouth to call for the guards when a voice, very cold and devoid of any human feeling, stopped him.
- Were I you, I would let your guards concentrate on their rightful duties. I came till these apartments without having to kill anyone. I'd like to have it go on in the same manner until I leave you to your well-earned rest.
The voice spoke in a perfect almost unaccented Mandarin.
Almost unaccented. It spoke of a learned man with the background of a scholar. But the tone spoke also of a man of action and resolution.
And since the accent was utterly unknown to him, he knew who had finally come to him.
He slowly turned around to look at his nightly visitor.
He was sitting –a major crime when facing the Son of Heaven- and stroking a huge black cat straddled in his lap, its cold yellow eyes looking at him with –he would have sworn it- a smile on its feline lips. He had seen the pictures of the Demons his ancestors used to summon and use and those eyes looking at him were of the same essence. But they were a lot more threatening. He took the precaution to nod his welcome to the beastly fiend. One never knows…
- Monsieur d'Arcy, what a pleasure to finally meet you. I don't remember having invited you.
- I am a man of the shadows, your divine Highness. I walk the night and stalk from one location to the other. I'm not invited, I'm summoned or I appear at my target's side if the circumstances demand for a swift and discreet action.
- And do the circumstances demand for such action?
D'Arcy smiled discreetly.
- I believe so, your divine Highness. I believe so.
- Am I your target tonight?
- Only in the sense that it is you I need to speak with without any outsider's interaction. I have no intention to attack or kill you. Would I have had such an intention you would be already dead.
The feline sat up, stretched while yawning –showing very impressive fangs- and jumped in one clear and agile movement from d'Arcy's lap to the Emperor's desk where he chose to sit down while looking at the young man.
- Why are you here then?
- Once upon a time I swore an oath to your grandfather and even if said Grandfather has decided to renegade on his part of the bargain, I still feel obliged to speak with the current Chinese ruler to see what to do about said oath. It's easier now since the ruler who let me down is no longer there to focus my legitimate wrath.
- He was the Son of Heaven! His word was the law in this country! He could make the decisions he wanted. He could renegade on what he wanted. He was, as I am, above the laws of men…
The smile on his guest's face changed subtly.
- There are other laws, your divine Highness. Laws others can use against you.
A knife appeared in d'Arcy's hand.
- Like the law of the fittest, strongest and smartest surviving while the weak is crushed into oblivion.
He stopped Yonglin's reaction.
- I'm not here to threaten you. Not really. Or only a little… One is always a slave of its upbringing. And my upbringing has been very Chinese. Threats seem to be included in the package.
He shook his head while smiling.
- I'm here to make you understand that there are people out there who have the means to live a life that disregards any petty ruler's decisions. You can go on believing any Chinese dynastic crap you want, your divine Highness, but consider that faith is of no use against a blade slicing your throat while you sleep!
- Shouldn't you remember that you are not here to threaten me?
- I should indeed but the fact is that I am not threatening you, your divine Highness. I'm trying to remind you that the truths out there are not the truths in here. And that Chinese truths tend to become mere illusions a few thousand miles away from your Capitol city.
He made a placating gesture.
- I have lived in this country when I was at my physical and intellectual height. I have been in the service of one of your Grandfather's uncles and I know that there are quite a few delusions running around in the Imperial family. But even if your dynasty and those before insisted on being half gods with the Sun as most powerful ancestor, I should advise you to consider the fact that even if the first dynasty's divine ancestry had been true –I have seen weirder things recently- there had been at least one bloody change in dynasty where none of the former dynasty's member has survived that it can probably be proven that it is no longer the case. So, the probability is that the fact that none of your ancestors had shown a pinch of any fabulous supernatural powers is testimony to your very human and non-godly breeding.
- Some of them had renowned powers, protested Yonglin.
- I beg to differ, Your Divine Magnificence. For that, they had to depend on a cast of demonists to keep up the illusion! And you are smart enough to know that by doing that they came to depend on those pseudo priests' powers. Agreed-for slavery is still slavery, wouldn't you agree?
Yonglin's eyes strayed towards the feline whose non-existent smile just increased.
- And you are different?
- Not at all. And what importance, your divine Highness? Some are slaves to demon handlers and some are slaves to their wives or their greed. Few rulers indeed are independent thinking individuals. Most crave for the power their status grants them. And to remain at the top they lose their free will.
Yonglin couldn't help but let a condescending smile appear on his lips while repeating his former question.
- And you are different?
- Probably not at all but in my case it's even less important: I'm not the one who wields the real power in those western lands where I dwell now.
- Your son is sitting on one throne and your daughter soon to be another ruler's consort. You are a man who could be of primordial importance if manipulated by the right people.
D'Arcy nodded slowly.
- I could indeed be a man of influence should I decide to become anyone's puppet! I've been a slave for way too long to accept freely to become one again. For now, I prefer letting Jane, my wife, play the role of the adviser in the background. It's better for everybody.
For a second d'Arcy's face was suffused with a mix of pleasure and incomprehension.
- Even after two decades of sharing her life with me she still loves Mankind where I must confess much more negative feelings for it… All in all, I consider it a much better bargain for Humanity.
Yonglin's eyes looked back at d'Arcy.
- You know what the Chinese culture believes about women.
- And you are not the only ones to do so and thus to be complete fools, your divine Highness. Women are not better Human beings, but neither are they lesser Human beings. Some cultures, by treating them as mere cattle, deprive themselves of half of their smartest subjects.
D'Arcy snickered.
- You are in good company though. And not very long ago we Westerners weren't better at all. You and the Muslims and all those foolish idiots are very welcome to go on maiming yourselves. We –and by we I mean the Westerners- we will just go on letting our women helping us to take over the world. And if one day you wake up and see the mess you've drowned yourself in it will be a pleasant spectacle to see all the fools' reactions.
The smile disappeared and his face became as cold as his eyes.
- I'm ready to bet half my fortune that, rather than seeing their own responsibility in their subservient situation, they'll accuse us, the smart winner of the race, to have cheated on them and they will rise in arms to get at our throat. But we still will be better, and I'll do my best to prepare my civilization to be ready to take them out, believe me. We will crush them with our superior weapons and a total lack of mercy.
Yonglin couldn't help but frown at his uninvited guest.
- You are quite sure of yourself, aren't you?
- I surprised you unaware and defenseless within your very own private apartments, didn't I? That's a demonstration of its own, isn't it? And what I did as a man, I'm sure we can do as a people and an army. Don't be foolish and underestimate us… We may have silly visions of Humanity's worth but should you attack us we will show to the world that we are also able to forget that silly nonsense the time to get rid of those who weren't intelligent enough to see the tides change. You'll find us the heartless killers the situation will need.
- I do fear you are right, sighed the Son of Heaven, we let our arrogance blind us and because of it we have lost our technological and scientific edge. Two centuries ago, we were the leader and we had the opportunity to take over.
D'Arcy acknowledged Yonglin's agreement with a nod but Yonglin saw that his guest wanted his point to be hammered in. His experience with Chinese rulers had probably been difficult enough to push him into saying his next words.
- We both know how it will end should it come to a direct confrontation between our people, don't we?
- No we don't, countered Yonglin. Because I still have the richest country and I have no respect at all for human life. I still can smother your armies under mountains of Chinese dead bodies! But right now, I have no intention to know how it would end, said Yonglin. I have smarter things to do than send millions of my subjects die for nothing. I would be a real fool to argue with a man who, if everything goes like I want, will be an important part of the success of my plans.
D'Arcy's face went back to being unreadable.
- What are your plans, your divine Highness? My son has told me about the bargain you propose, and I have read all the reports about what's currently going on in London. But, knowing the Chinese frame of mind, I'm quite sure that there's something else behind said proposal. I know the Chinese arrogant attitude towards outsiders and even better their mind-set towards long-nosed barbarians like myself. I don't believe for a second that you've stopped considering yourselves as superior to us…
- That's because we are superior to you, my dear long-nosed Westerner barbarian. Had we not let our own arrogance make us complacent we would have been in your place.
This time the smile on d'Arcy's face was genuine and reached his eyes.
- You did and you didn't and now we are the alpha dog of the pack.
- Not for long, countered Yonglin. We were asleep but now we are fully awake, and I will do what's necessary to be back in the race. And to get the best possible circumstances, I will ally myself with the best partner available.
- That's the spirit! applauded d'Arcy. But it will come with a price, you know it, don't you?
Yonglin nodded.
- I know that China won't be able to enter that race without changing drastically but I still have the means to get my aristocracy to do what I want even if they don't like what I ask.
- Alexander paid and is still paying an exceedingly high price because he chose to follow us on this path while his aristocracy was reluctant.
- Russia is a barbarian backwater, answered Yonglin, you can't compare us with them.
- As of now Russia has more factories and a better equipped army than China, even if you have ten times the number of soldiers. A confrontation would be expensive.
- Bodies is a currency China has aplenty.
- That's typically a sentence I advise you never to use in presence of my son or his mother. They do care for their people and they lack the heartlessness real cold-bloodied rulers have.
- It can be a shortcoming enemies will use.
- It could but since I'll deal with said enemies personally, it won't. I do not have their scruples and I have the bad habit not to ask my son for permission to do things I deem necessary.
- Am I something you deem necessary?
- Seeing you was, and I quite like what I saw.
- Are you agreeing with me?
- I do, you are perhaps not what I would call a perfect ruler -that would be my son, it won't surprise you of course- but for Chinese circumstances I must say that I'm quite happily surprised. You are not a disappointment.
- Should I thank you for the vote of confidence?
- Indeed, you should because I tend to do things -nasty and unsanctioned things- to bad people who want to harm other people I believe are interesting and whose actions are in favor of my son's policy.
- Are you proposing your services?
- I already are under oath with your family, remember? And I do believe that a word given is a word due. So, no need to propose I'm already bound to protect you. I just wanted to see you and decide de visu if it is worth to remind you of that little detail.
- De visu ?
- After having seen with my own eyes. It's Latin, the language of the Western Empire that was created at the same time Qin Shi Huang joined the seven Kingdoms into one powerful Empire.
- Empire that is still existing…
- Only because your barbarian invaders were smarter than ours, but then ours were Germans, lot of muscles but not the best when it comes to consider brain. But all in all, you are right, your Empire is still here and powerful and, for some years more, rich enough to stop wallowing in its past successes to stand up and play, again, a major role.
- The major role if I have a say…
- As long as you don't threaten members of my not existing dynasty, you are free to do whatever you want.
- With your son ruler of the first and affianced to the heiress of the third, while you daughter is Napoleon's heir's wife there is quite a lot of real estate covered by your restrictions.
- Yes and no, your divine Highness. Grand Great Britain and France are clearly included in it but Russia is not, its current ruler refused to have me lend a hand. Out of brotherly respect. He says that one does not slit a brother's throat whatever. Even if you have proof that said throat is that of a rattle-snake. In my opinion that was an awfully bad move…
Yonglin who had quite a few spies in Russia could only nod.
- So, you have heard about Nicolai's ambitions?
- His ambitions don't matter, what matters is his impatience. He's Russia's heir and one day he would have gotten what he is lusting for, but I really fear he won't be able to await fate's decision. He's vanished for months now and there is only one good reason to disappear in such a manner: he prepares something he doesn't want me to learn about. And I can't picture anything, but a murderous coup dear Nicolai wants to launch.
- And you really don't know where he is?
- I've made the mistake to believe that Alexander would accept the truth even if it was going against his convictions. I acted too soon and killed too many of Nicolai's supporters giving said Nicolai too much opportunities to discern my handy-work. He does not know how I do it to find those I look for, but he now knows that I do have means to get at people I want dead. And he clearly does not want to be found.
- And meanwhile he plots against his brother.
- Actively, said d'Arcy. One of his goons made an attempt to kill my children during Lexi's wedding in Paris. Nicolai's plan would have succeeded had I not have special allies able to see things nobody else' able to see. We now know what he did to get under the radar…
- Under the radar?
- A radar is a machine that allows to see approaching airships and planes at great distances. Planes flying near the ground have a better chance to avoid being seen by them… Hence the saying flying under the radar…
Yonglin nodded and couldn't help to be angered by his father's and grandfather's blindness. Here he was dreaming of having airships when the competitors were already two steps further…
- And I must confess that I suspect a powerful oriental ruler to support Nicolai in order to get a very convenient civil war in Russia. It would be the perfect opportunity to make a move towards regaining Siberia, wouldn't it?
Yonglin made great efforts to stay stone-faced and relaxed.
- Are you suspecting me to finance Nicolai Romanov to topple his brother from the throne?
D'Arcy emitted a noise half-snort and half laughter.
- Of course, I do. Because it is what I would do. China has had his sights on Siberia since the Russian took it. Only an idiot would not speculate on the possibility of inner Russian strife to launch an offensive to get back what China consider hers. I suspect you to place your own pawns on the field to put Russia in jeopardy and open China's window of opportunity
Yonglin couldn't help but frown.
- I'm not sure I understand your current message. Are you warning me off or inviting me in?
His comment earned him a shrug.
- Interesting question, your Majesty. It will seem strange but, at this very moment, I'm unable to answer your question. Too many contradictory things can still happen in the near future that even I can't discern what has the greatest chance to happen.
Yonglin whose advisor often reproved his harsh and speedy decisions could only nod his agreement. He hoped that his last decisions would pull the Empire into the desired direction, but he was unable to see a clear picture of the future that wasn't polluted by his wish-thinking.
- It is always so, isn't it? Should Russia fall into chaos and internal strife I would be a fool not to seize the opportunity of the moment. Not acting would show me as a fool or, worst, as a coward.
The man facing him made a non-committing head gesture.
- One qualifier is worth the other. To bolster your image, you will have to act, there's no doubt in my mind even if in the grand scheme I nurture it will be of no importance at all.
Yonglin didn't react outwardly but he did hear the 'I nurture' and he couldn't help but wonder about the real reason for d'Arcy's presence in his apartments. Here was a man who had maneuvered everybody around him to get his son on Great Britain's throne and to get one of his daughters to be betrothed with France's heir. What was his goals with Russia?
He decided to ask.
- What role do you see for China in that Grand Scheme?
- An important one, of course. For me, the Chinese culture is an important one and, even if I have a lot of bad memories from the time I have spent here, I'm what I am because of what China did to me. Did for me! I am a lot of things but what I'm not is ungrateful. I'm quite sure that I had it in me to be a Great man, but it was the teachings I got in the Temple that brought it out. I owe you and China, and I now know how to pay my debts…
- Does Siberia play a role in the way you intend to pay off your debts?
His question got him another non-committal head gesture.
- You'll understand that I cannot answer that question directly. Let's just say that should you and Grand Great Britain enter a real alliance and cooperate truthfully with each other; it would have no importance who possesses Siberia. The Company -and thus the family- would still have access to this land's riches.
Yonglin began to understand how d'Arcy's mind was working. What was making him tick.
- When everything is said I did warn Alexander and I did specifically propose him to get rid -discreetly of course and in a manner where no implication of the Russian throne could have been found- of his brother. He always refused even when I was very insistent.
He sighed and Yonglin could see that even if the situation was not to his liking he would do what had to be done.
- There comes a time when one must live with the consequences of one's decisions! Or in this case, when one has to die because of some of one's decisions.
- That looks like a very dreary point of view.
- There is nothing positive in the whole matter. One brother has the throne and wants to keep it and the other wants it strongly enough to be able to forget that he shares the same father as the current Czar. This ugly situation can only end with one brother dead and the other on the throne. And since Alexander has clearly and repeatedly refused to do what must be done, I have no doubt that he will end up dead. And since Nicolai has not an ounce of subtlety it is a very good thing that my son's fiancée is currently living in Pemberley or London. There, my men will be able to extend my son's protection to her. William likes her, I wouldn't want him to be unhappy.
Yonglin felt his counterpart's double reasoning.
- That's not the whole story, I'm sure of it. For your son it's probably the whole of the story but not for you. Her survival is of a greater importance than just your son's disappointment.
Yonglin was pleased to see appreciation in d'Arcy's eyes.
- Indeed, should Nicolai do what I suspect he plans right now, I will not let him sit happily on his usurped throne. I will do my utmost to get his hide while putting my daughter in law on the Russian throne. She will be Czarina and the Russian people will be happy to accept her. But, in a few decades, her son -my grandson- will become Czar after his mother's demise and, once his father's death, he will have the prospect to merge most of the Russian lands into an even Grander Great Empire…
- And all that without even firing a shot! Are there no limits to your ambition?
- There will be shots, don't be too optimistic, your divine Highness. But it won't be my grandson who will have to order them. We'll make sure that he will inherit a stable and prosperous Empire. The shots will have been shot a long time ago by his father during the Russian reconquest campaign!
He shook his head.
- As for my alleged ambition I can only deny. I have for years forgone any personal ambition at all, so I do fear that your comment is highly unwelcomed and unfair.
Yonglin decided that it wasn't worth to argue on that point. The man was free to consider himself not ambitious even if the facts spoke against his declarations.
- Let's admit that you are not ambitious for yourself, but it is clearly not the case when it comes to your family.
- Family is important and young people are often not aware enough that things have to be prepared a long time in advance if you want them to bear fruits in time.
- And what fruits do you want your son to harvest?
- It's not my son who will be the one to harvest this particular crop, Your Majesty. It's you!
- Me?
- Of course, you! To get your aristocracy to accept the major societal changes you are about to make happen, you will be in need of a major victory. Getting Siberia back -at least in part- will shut up all your opponents. You will be the Emperor who has gotten Siberia back. Quite the success don't you think?
D'Arcy's face became even more unreadable.
- And I don't consider that even a victorious war against the Siberian Cossaks won't end without massive casualties. Who says that some of said opponents won't have died while fighting in front of your invading troops…
- You mean…
- Only that bad things happen during battles, your Majesty. And sometimes some of the more famous casualties are more of a chance than a disaster.
Yonglin suddenly knew exactly why d'Arcy was there, facing him. He wanted to warn him that he needed to be ready. Not only hypothetically ready but with everything in place to use all the opportunities a military campaign could provide to an insightful ruler.
And d'Arcy had come to the same conclusion since he stood up.
- It's time for me to quit, your Majesty. Other duties await…
He bowed minimally.
- It had been a pleasure to meet you. Should you need to know who the best candidates would be to manage an invasion army, I took the liberty to provide a list of the most eligible aristocrats for that task. I do think you'll find said list useful. A lot of them are immediately available and all will mightily benefit from the experience a war can provide to smart and ambitious people.
Yonglin looked around and saw a folder on his desk he had never seen before.
- I'll have a look at your list. Thank you…
- Never mind thanking me, we will soon be allies after all.
He pointed towards the folder.
- It's always useful, for a ruler, to know who is trustworthy and who's not.
- You are right indeed, Sir. Do you need my help to vacate the premises?
His guest shook his head.
- I will use the same medium to go away than I used to come in, your Majesty.
He pointed his chin towards the folder.
- Better that nobody knows about my visit and our little chat. No need to make suspicious untrustworthy people aware that something untoward has happened tonight. There are secrets better not shared.
- Will I see you again?
- Not necessarily but should I believe it necessary, I will probably have to ask you once more to be forgiven for my untoward behavior.
- Once more? Must I consider that your twisted sentence includes a demand to forgive you for this first intrusion?
- Only if you feel like it, Your Majesty. Only if you feel like it!
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Poland - Malborg
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November 1821
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He likes you…
That's when you discover that you are now an old man: when the youngsters stop fearing you and begin liking you.
He sighed heavily while changing into his uniform. The day in Poland was a long way from finished and he needed to get a personal look at the new subterranean base. With the advent of heavy airships armed with heavy bombs, the military had begun to burrow itself into the ground. Like here where the superb castle would only be a façade. The real defensive positions were invisible, and he doubted that anyone of those who were surveying them had a real idea about the sheer vastness of France's Oriental Combat fortification.
He was impressed a lot more by the fact that you were able to speak to him using the Sun Tongue than by our apparition in his apartments. He knows everything about your reputation as a dashing and efficient assassin in his family's service. You know how painstakingly those Chinese bureaucrats make reports. Everything you've done while in the service of his Grand Uncle has been noted and commented. So, your exploits as a killer and spy were duly noted. He didn't know that you were also a scholar. It impressed him a lot.
Well, then we got what we wanted. If he is impressed, he will, perhaps, think about the consequences of his actions before making rash and idiotic decisions.
He shook his head.
What are his intentions with the list?
He's studying it as we speak. He's not very surprised by most of the names but there are a few people on the list he considered as worth his trust.
Those would have been the ones to backstab him, thought d'Arcy. It's always the trusted ones who come in striking distance.
He's not sure about what to do with the list, sent Fluffy. He was tempted to do a little preemptive cleaning, but he decided to just have them monitored. The evil you know…
He's right, it's always better to keep your known enemies in sight. Once you've destroyed them, they tend to be replaced by smarter new unknown ones. None of them has anything on the fire, have they?
Not that I know. But they don't have, for the most of them, a real knowledge of what is going to happen with Great Britain. I'm not quite sure how they will react once they know.
I'll have to ask you to watch them a little more diligently these coming weeks.
Only watch? Or am I allowed to take preventive measures should they have bad thoughts?
There is that oath I swore years in the past, remember? I swore to protect the dynasty against all their enemies even without direct orders. I can always argue that what has been done has been done while following orders.
What if the threat comes from enemies who are also members of the dynasty?
If they threaten somebody higher in the pecking order, they are free targets, family is important but in China hierarchy is adamant. And should the assassin make a political mistake the Son of Heaven won't hesitate to have him beheaded to sooth familial demands.
Imperial assassin seems to be a dangerous and ungrateful job.
It is on both accounts, but it was my choice. Loathing humanity is a very powerful incentive for the job, believe me.
D'Arcy stopped and forced himself to come back to the heart of Fluffy's questions. Nosy as she was, she probably knew his past and current motivations better than himself.
There are a lot of difficult decisions to make and there comes a time where survival takes the top of your priority. It becomes necessary to get out of town immediately after having done what you deemed necessary. I did it the day I had to choose between the wrath of my direct boss and the wrath of the Emperor. I did what I was ordered to do but I didn't stay to see the Emperor's usual reaction. But I had a great advantage: I knew where to go and how to reach it. Having a place far away where you can easily get lost in the crowd is a real help!
But you weren't really hiding, were you?
I met Napoleon in Cairo where I learned about my father's and brother's fates. It changed everything in my plans and after having destroyed Nelson's fleet in Abou Kir hiding was no longer a workable possibility. So, I decided to get my real name back -with the side benefit that I could claim back my family's wealth- and to become one of the most viewable Frenchmen on Earth. And it worked tremendously well. I'm quite sure that the Chinese agents never suspected that the man they were looking for was France's number four politician.
He snickered.
It helps that for the Chinese all Westerners are exceedingly difficult to recognize from each other. I'm quite sure that until the Shahinshah's denunciation the former Son of Heaven had no idea where I was. He probably even believed me dead.
He could have sent a Demon to find you. He would have found you.
I was a very small thorn in his foot. Not worth paying the price it would have cost him to have the Priests send a Demon after me.
He did it a few years ago, and the Priests' ceremony was what triggered my interest for the Chinese Capitol City.
When he finally learned about me, I was one of the most famous men in Europe, his pride and probably his jealousy couldn't accept to let me live.
He should have tried to blackmail you, shouldn't he? He could have won a lot more than just his revenge.
He was, like his father and grandfather, a fool only interested in getting what he wanted. And I wouldn't have accepted to be blackmailed. I would have retaliated… And I'm not known to be lenient with fools. Not even with Imperial fools.
You are a lot less bloodthirsty now than a few years ago. You would have hesitated.
You are perhaps right; I would have wondered if by going there and doing the retaliation I wouldn't have irked my wife. She has a bad influence on my retaliatory skills.
She does know it and from time to time she fears that her presence in your life has been emasculating you.
That feels just like her to feel guilty about making me a better man. I'll have to show her that I'm not emasculated at all.
I'm not sure I will ever be able to understand you Humans.
We don't understand each other so don't worry about it, just take us as we are.
Earlier in my Terrestrial existence I had no problem living along you without wondering, it is now each day a little more difficult. I wonder as soon as I'm back…
How is it behind the Veil?
Same as usual. Some idiot Demon has tried to get at Speedy's body. He came out of the confrontation with flying colors. I'm rather proud of him. I hope he hasn't seen me while I was looking after him.
Would you have intervened?
Only if some opportunists had decided to make a try at the fighters as it sometimes happens. The assailant was stronger but Speedy had followed enough hand to hand fighting lessons with me to be able to avoid being hit most of the time. He stood his ground and won.
Why were you there at the same time as him? Haven't you decided to take turns to patrol behind the veil.
I got a bad feeling and acted on it. It wasn't necessary but it was pleasant to see him shred an assailant to pieces. But even if he wins over his foe, he has still to win over himself. There is always the risk that the thrill of the hunt takes over when one is behind the veil. It could happen that the power rush binds him there and devolves him into an almost normal if extremely dangerous Demon. Should it happen I'll have to move my body as soon as possible somewhere else even if I'm quite sure he does not know where I hibernate.
He would attack you?
He would attack my body and the attack would immediately pull me back to defend myself, but he would have a dangerous head start. Better for me and the both of us that he doesn't know where I hide.
But you know where he hides?
I chose the hiding place with him.
And he doesn't fear your hunger?
No, he knows I have no longer an interest to rule behind the veil, so he doesn't feel threatened by my knowledge. But he is still young and ambitious. He's not yet sure where he wants to spend the rest of his existence. Being one of the most powerful Demons roaming the Realm has its enticement for young ones. Don't you remember?
I remember the search for revenge and the pull of vengeance. My lust for becoming a feared killer had nothing to do with becoming the most powerful Demon roaming the Realm.
Only because your father was the Demon you wanted to take out of the game. You were able to put a name and a face on your archenemy's feature. We Demons we don't have the luck of known parentage. We are all the afterthought of a defeat, of a lost battle. We all have that longing within us to find our other self's killer and to do it better this time.
Even you?
Of course, it's that thrive that defines me as a Demon. But I'm more than just a Demon. I'm Fluffy and being Fluffy means a lot more for me than being one among many Demons. Even being an immensely powerful Demon has no longer the same appeal. I have discovered that ruling over others by fear is not the most amusing thing in the Universe. It could become an acceptable substitute but as long as I can benefit of the subtle and thrilling essence of love and respect, I'll stay where I am.
He could feel her laugh.
And Earth is not a fantasy land where love and understanding reigns and rules. There are a lot of wingless two-legged would-be Demons I still can rip to pieces and whose life energy I can greedily sip. It's not the best behind-the-veil Demon vintage but it's an acceptable and plentiful brand that gives me a lot of palatable sustenance. And your battles are such wonderful candy stores. You cannot imagine.
It has been a long time since you've had the opportunity to assist to one…
I did a few side trips to Africa while the French did their pacification campaigns. There were a few pitched battles where only a few hundred warriors were killed. Nothing to compare with one of your half-a-million soldiers battles but those battles were quite enough to satiate my desires and to introduce Speedy to the intoxicating pleasure of Human Wars. He adored it and since those were puny battles in comparison to those Persian Battles we fought together he wasn't even saturated like I was. He was impressed and it gave him the right perspective about what this world can provide us if we are able to protect it against other Demons.
Is there a risk with other Demons?
There are a few schools whose major endeavor is to teach the art of summoning creatures from behind the veil. I personally closed two of them when I got a whiff of their summoning rituals. Luckily for us those rituals are lengthy and –in a Demon's way of hunting- rather noisy. One was a solitary student of black arts I literally scared to death with my appearance, but the other was a rather well taught pack of Demonologists whose summoning ritual could have pulled a Demon from there to here. I stopped the whole nonsense before it was too late. Those weren't scared and they were prepared to face a Demon. It was quite a fight… But they were prepared to fight a surprised or shocked Demon. Against me all they had was worth nothing at all.
You won?
And I destroyed not only them but everything they had accumulated in order to summon Demons.
One could say that you want to prevent the arrival of competition.
And one would be right. I do want to prevent the arrival of a bloodthirsty competitor. I know that Mary has the knowledge to throw a newly hatched Demon back behind the veil but you really don't want to witness what a rogue Demon would unleash on Humanity before we happen to get rid of him. This is my turf and I will protect it against Demonic competitors with everything at my disposal, you and your family included. Only fools would wish to enslave an adult Demon. Adult Demons are the most untrustworthy creatures of the whole Universe. You can't trust them for anything, they will always spin their promises in such a way that they will win in the end. That's the reason not totally foolish summoners try to get hold of a spawn too young to have a real personality.
But Betty summoned you, didn't she? So, accidents could happen.
Indeed, accidents can happen but she didn't summon me, she accidentally ripped the veil open and since I was just in the immediate vicinity –that was sheer luck for everybody- I slipped through before it repaired and closed itself again.
But Speedy was summoned, wasn't he?
Not in the real way a summoning takes place. He was lured in. The Priests in Beijing had the spells to look behind the veil and to find a roaming spawn. Once said spawn discovered they opened a hole to the Demons' Realm and taunted the Spawn by beginning to torture a Human toddler. Fear and suffering are prodigiously efficient to bait Demons. All Demons in fact react to the reek of fear and suffering. But Spawns having not yet any experience or intelligence, can't resist at all. They follow the scent like bloodhounds on a trail and a little rip in the Universe's very essence is of no real importance when there is sustenance at the end of the trail. That's how Speedy came here and how I found him.
So, we could do the same, couldn't we?
You already have my answer to that question! We could but we won't. Two unchallenged Demons roaming freely these lands are quite enough. The more you bring in, the less opportunities said Demons will find for themselves. Not all will find themselves accepted in a loving family like me and Speedy. What will those others be? Trusted but feared partners or exploited and enchained slaves? Should the second case be what happens there will be frustration and hostility. And, believe me; you don't want to nurture a hostile and frustrated Demon anywhere around you! So, let's be very clear: there will be no recruiting campaign behind the veil! Not now and not ever!
Well that's a very pointedly stated opinion, said d'Arcy. One day you'll perhaps convince me that less allies are better than more.
Convinced or not the result will be the same: neither Speedy nor me will recruit other Spawns! Because Demons cannot be allies, they are too untrustworthy for that. In fact, they are untrustworthiness incarnate. I should know I'm one of them. The only way to change them is the way Betty followed. You can open your arms and greet them in your family, make them into friends but they will never be allies. Never!
I
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